NICVD crosses 500 pediatric heart rhythm surgeries

Pakistan's only dedicated pediatric electrophysiology programme has reached a major milestone by successfully performing 500 life-saving procedures for children suffering from potentially fatal heart rhythm disorders, with treatment worth nearly Rs1 billion provided entirely free of charge.

The achievement marks a significant breakthrough in a field that, until a few years ago, had no specialised treatment available in the country.

The National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) Karachi said the programme has transformed the outlook for hundreds of children affected by complex cardiac arrhythmias—conditions that can cause breathlessness after minimal exertion, recurrent fainting spells, dangerously fast or slow heartbeats, and, in some cases, sudden cardiac death in otherwise healthy children and young adults.

Pediatric Electrophysiology Programme Head Dr Muhammad Mohsin said heart rhythm disorders in children are complex but largely treatable. Many cases are congenital or hereditary, with multiple members of the same family sometimes affected.

He said the programme primarily treats three categories of patients: children born with abnormally slow heart rhythms requiring pacemakers, patients suffering from abnormally fast heart rhythms, and children and adolescents with inherited conditions that place them at high risk of sudden cardiac arrest.

According to Dr Mohsin, patients with rapid heart rhythms are treated through Electrophysiology (EP) Studies and Catheter Ablation—A minimally invasive procedure that eliminates abnormal electrical pathways in the heart without opening the chest. Using advanced three-dimensional mapping technology, doctors guide a thin catheter through a blood vessel in the groin or arm to precisely identify and destroy the tissue responsible for the irregular rhythm. The procedure typically takes two to three hours.

He said the cost of treating a single patient ranges between Rs1 million and Rs1.5 million. However, every procedure under the programme has been provided free of cost.

Dr Mohsin noted that awareness of pediatric cardiac rhythm disorders was extremely limited in Pakistan before 2021 but has improved considerably. The programme now receives 30 to 35 patients daily in its outpatient department, while around 200 families remain under long-term follow-up. He said common warning signs include poor physical growth, recurrent fainting, chest discomfort, persistent symptoms despite medication, and an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest.